Thursday TV Ratings 5/16/24: Young Sheldon Soars for Series Finale, So Help Me Todd Also Jumps in Final Episode, Organized Crime and Law & Order Finales Also Rise [+ Analysis]

Ratings Analysis: CBS's Young Sheldon ended its seven-season run in monumental fashion. The long-running sitcom posted a monstrous 0.71 rating at 8 p.m. and then climbed to a 0.76 for its final ever episode at 8:30. One would have to go back to January 2022 to find an episode with a higher Adults 18-49 rating than this series finale. In terms of total viewership, both episodes of Young Sheldon cleared the 9-million mark, a feat it has not accomplished since April 2020! But Sheldon was not the only series finale of the night, as canceled drama So Help Me Todd (0.35, +0.08) aired its series finale right after the boy genius's antics came to a close. However, Todd retained less than half of its monstrous lead-in and was not even able to set a new season high. At 10, Elsbeth (0.26, +0.04) also rose but not nearly as much as the others. On NBC, Law & Order (0.35, +0.05) and Organized Crime (0.33, +0.04) were up for their respective finales, but SVU (0.41, -0.01) ticked down. 9-1-1 (0.44, -0.06), Grey's Anatomy (0.35, -0.04), and Station 19 (0.21, -0.05) all slipped on ABC. Fox's I Can See Your Voice (0.17) was significantly weaker than Next Level Chef in its return, and the Farmer Wants a Wife finale (0.19, -0.04) suffered as a result. Patti Stanger (0.03, -0.02) dipped on the CW, while Lovers and Liars posted its third-straight 0.03. 

Thursday TV Ratings 5/9/24: Law and Order: SVU and Organized Crime Rise, So Help Me Todd and Elsbeth Drop [+ Analysis]

Ratings Analysis: Though Law & Order (0.30, -0.03) declined on NBC, SVU (0.42, +0.03) and Organized Crime (0.29, +0.07) were on the rise. On CBS, Young Sheldon (0.44, -0.06) was down markedly from last week at 8 but grew a bit at 8:30 (0.46, +0.02). So Help Me Todd (0.27, -0.05) and Elsbeth (0.22, -0.05) diminished in size. 9-1-1 (0.50, -0.01) inched down on ABC, but Grey's Anatomy (0.39, +0.01) and Station 19 (0.26, +0.04) were up. Next Level Chef (0.29, -0.01) lost a hundredth for its Fox finale, while Farmer Wants a Wife (0.23, +0.01) gained one. Patti Stanger (0.05, +0.01) was up slightly, but Lovers and Liars held steady at 0.03.

Thursday TV Ratings 5/2/24: Ghosts Finale and Elsbeth Rise, Station 19 and Law & Order: Organized Crime Sink to New Lows [+ Analysis]

Ratings Analysis: It was a disappointing night for ABC as dramas 9-1-1 (0.51, -0.08), Grey's Anatomy (0.38, -0.13), and Station 19 (0.22, -0.06) all declined dramatically. On CBS, Ghosts (0.50, +0.05) was up for its season finale. Young Sheldon (0.50, +0.07) and Elsbeth (0.27, +0.03) also improved, but So Help Me Todd (0.32, 0.00) was unable to rise. Law & Order (0.33, -0.03) dropped slightly on NBC, but Law & Order: SVU (0.39, -0.11) and Law & Order: Organized Crime (0.22, -0.11) were both down by more than a full tenth. Next Level Chef (0.30, +0.01) and Farmer Wants a Wife (0.22, +0.02) inched up on Fox. Patti Stanger (0.04, -0.02) slipped on the CW, while Lovers & Liars (0.03, +0.01) gained a hundredth.

Thursday TV Ratings 4/25/24: NFL Draft Rises from 2023, Elsbeth Hits New Low, Young Sheldon and Ghosts Also Drop (Final Ratings w/Analysis)

Ratings Analysis: The NFL Draft (1.05) was a tenth higher than it was in 2023 (0.95) and propelled ABC to 18-49 demographic dominance. On CBS, Young Sheldon (0.43, -0.06), Ghosts (0.45, -0.05), So Help Me Todd (0.32, -0.01), and Elsbeth (0.24, -0.04) all declined. Next Level Chef (0.29, -0.08) and Farmer Wants a Wife (0.20, -0.07) collapsed on Fox. The Law & Order shows (0.18/0.17/0.18) were in repeat mode on NBC. Patti Stanger: The Matchmaker (0.06, 0.00) held steady on the CW, but Lovers and Liars (0.02, -0.01) ticked down. 

So Help Me Todd and CSI: Vegas Canceled by CBS

CBS continues to whittle down the number of shows with outstanding fates. One day after renewing freshman Thursday drama Elsbeth, the Tiffany Network has canceled two series. Legal dramedy So Help Me Todd has been canceled after two seasons, while CSI reboot CSI: Vegas has been canceled after three seasons. Both series rated towards the bottom of CBS' scripted pack, with Todd and CSI squandering strong lead-ins - Ghosts and Tracker, respectively. Both series rated nearly the same as they did last season, with Todd down 4% and CSI: Vegas up 3%, marking some of the best year-to-year trends on broadcast. That was not enough to save either show, as CBS has a full slate heading into next season, having already ordered five new shows, including three new hour-long dramas. Marcia Gay Harden and Skylar Astin headed the cast of So Help Me Todd, while CSI: Vegas featured Paula Newsome and Matt Lauria in lead roles. The cancellation of So Help Me Todd is a correct prediction for The TV Ratings Guide, while CSI: Vegas is a miss. These decisions leave just two shows - The Equalizer and NCIS: Hawai'i - awaiting decisions.